Yahoo to keep personal search data for 18 months instead of three

Los Angeles Times

[Robert Charlton]

Yahoo to keep personal search data for 18 months instead of three [latimesblogs.latimes.com]
Los Angeles Times - Technology
April 18, 2011

Yahoo Inc. said it would begin keeping records of its users’ search engine queries for at least 18 months, abandoning an earlier policy under which it kept data for only three months.

The retention of search term histories, which can encompass personal topics such as medical conditions or financial issues, has long been a point of contention in debates over digital privacy.

Yahoo said Monday that the decision was made to keep pace with online competitors.

Not mentioned in this particular story, but noted elsewhere, are pressures from US and EU law enforcement for longer data retention.